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The 201st Application

It’s been two months and 20 days since my first day of my Co-op term at Westcoast Family Centres, but I still find myself waking up every other day in utter disbelief that things worked out!

Letters
“What Do You Study in Communication?”

“So, what exactly do you study in communications?”

Leana Li using a computer with papers on the table
My Love-Hate Relationship with Accounting

"I knew very little about accounting and definitely had no passion for it" - read on to find out how Leana overcame her aversion towards accounting.

Featured

ALL BLOGS
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Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre

Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre has the main purpose of promoting, preserving and interpreting Sto:lo Lifestyle, Language, Traditions, and Heritage, from the Sto:lo point of view.

Indigenous students graduating
Indigenous Student Transitions | Part Two

As an SFU student, there are many services to actively prepare for a career after graduation. Indigenous students have all of the career services available to them that any other student has; however, they also have Aboriginal resources as well.

Peer helping another person
Cover Letters: Secrets to Capturing Your Employer’s Attention

Cover letters. The bane of everyone’s work search. A great cover letter doesn’t just happen by itself; rather, it is the result of you taking the time to do your research, and writing effective and meaningful information in a few well-worded sentences.

Picture of Whiskey
Passion With A "Small p": The Whisky Story

What can we take from the "smaller" things that we love? Often, they bring our lives tremendous amounts of meaning. It's important to acknowledge that work isn't the only area of life that we can derive meaning or fulfill our values.

People talking
How To Resolve Conflict In 6 Steps

Dealing with conflict is a crucial skill. The field of Dispute Resolution offers a variety of methods to manage and dissipate problematic issues. One popular approach is Issue-Based Problem Solving, which I discuss in this post. Read on for a simple 6-step guide to help you address emerging conflicts.

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Tips on Starting Your Portfolio

In this blog post, Patricia shares with us some tips and tricks to creating our own portfolios. Read on to find out more! 

Aboriginal Mother House building
Aboriginal Mother Centre

Aboriginal women and their children are among the most discriminated against and socially and economically disadvantaged living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The Aboriginal Mother Centre offers a safe and caring long-term home and all of the resources necessary to assist mothers and their children in realizing a brighter future.

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Aboriginal Head Start Association of BC

We are the leader in Aboriginal Early Childhood Education. We are the Catalyst for focusing expertise and creating opportunities to benefit sites. Keep reading to find out more...

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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Earning the Duke of Ed Award looks great on your resume as it shows you are a well rounded individual who is connected to the community. It’s a great way to explore your interests and try something new.
 

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My Lesson In Flexibility

Everyone has a picture in their mind when they think of what they will be doing when they land their first co-op job. It’s good to think big, but just remember to think FLEXIBLE. Let me tell you how being flexible allowed me to get a great co-op experience.

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The Joys of the Lunchroom: Being Social on the Job

You are new to the company, and you don’t know anyone. Where do you start? How about the lunchroom! Read on to learn about Natalie's lunchroom experience for her first co-op job.

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Co-op Poland: Evan's International Adventure of Self Exploration

University can be a draining experience. So how to do you recharge yourself without delaying your academic or professional plans? Why not go on an international co-op placement? Check out BPK student Evan Hutcheon's adventure, reflections and experiences he gained working in Poland.

Sage
Your Unpredictable Future: Where is Your Career Heading?

When it comes to your career, predicting, planning or trying to figure out what you’ll be doing in the future is well…almost impossible. Did you know that 70% of post-secondary students revealed their career choices were significantly influenced by an unplanned event (Krumboltz and Levin, 2004)?

Books
Passion: The Enduring Debate

Of the many debates in the career development world, the one over "passion" might be the most volatile. How much of a role should passion play in career choice? Looking at what we mean by "passion" might lead to some new answers.

Student meeting with an advisor
Resumes, Cover letters, Interviews and Volunteering: Remaining Professional for Unpaid Experiences

Kerri shows you where to find SFU's resources for building your resume, coverletter, and interview skills. Read on to find out how to use this to get volunteer positions.

banner of student of the week: Hannah
Engaged Student of the Week: Hannah Seraphim

Check out this week's Engaged Student of the Week! Learn about why and how they are engaged and how you can get involved at SFU too.

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How To Write Your Way Into Grad School

Harsimran Kaur is a Career Peer Educator with SFU Career Services, and a third year student studying health sciences, kinesiology, and psychology. Her passions revolve around helping people, and she aspires to a career in emergency medicine and epidemiology.

Indigenous students
Indigenous Student Transitions | Part One

Indigenous students transitioning to post-secondary often face unique challenge, which is why it's important to learn about all the community resources and scholarships avalible to Indigenous students at SFU.
 

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How To Say Goodbye At Work

Saying goodbye is hard under any circumstance, and people tend to avoid doing it as a result. Workplace relationships end all the time, so what's the best way to end them gracefully? I share my thoughts here.

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Tips for Getting Involved

Check out Felice's article giving you the Do's and Dont's of getting involved! Read on to find out ways to get engaged with your university.

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DIY Career Opportunities

Finding a job that you want to wake up for can be a challenge, especially in today’s economy. But what if you could create your own job? I know someone who (almost) did this for themselves and this is his story.

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Aboriginal Employment Equity

Searching for a career can be an intimidating prospect. Looking for work requires self-confidence and faith in ones abilities, as well as skin thick enough to handle rejection. Add in fear of discrimination and it can be debilitating. This is why educating oneself about Canada’s Employment Equity Act is so important.

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Encouraging Our Youth

Christina shares her experience in leading a group of Aboriginal high-school students through a tour of SFU, where they discussed the troubling statistics of Aboriginal student drop-out rates and the potential for their future.

Interview
How To Create A Winning Job Proposal

So you want to work for a certain employer, but they don’t have any job openings. What do you do? One option is to create a “job proposal” for the new position you’re aspiring to. Here’s how to do it.

A photo of Crystal Morris speaking a SFU Conference
SFU Indigenous Speakers: Crystal Morris

Crystal Morris shares her education and career journey, which has included a wide variety of roles in government, and the private sector, and how they brought her to where she is today.

Career fair
Top 10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Career Fairs

Planning to attend a career fair? Don't waste the recruiters time, or your own - learn how to arrive prepared, get the most out of the experience, and leave a great first impression.

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How to Promote Cross-Cultural Experiences in Your Resume

Rui dishes about how volunteering can beef up your resume and give you a cross cultural edge! Read on for great tips and resources. 

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Gain a Great Experience and Great Skills. Become an Orientation Leader!

Alex has the scoop on why you should become an orientation leader! Read on to find out how she gained transferable professional skills while having a blast.

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Explore the University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) is the first choice for Aboriginal graduate students, due, in part to their commitment to cultural understanding and student success. They will be attending the mini BIG fair at SFU this year.

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Reflecting on Being a Indigenous Career Speaker: Audrey Tooshkenig

Audrey Tooshkenig reflects on her experience at the 2012 Indigenous People's Career Stories event, and how she managed to overcome a brief dip in her self-confidence to present to a room full of earnest listeners.

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